The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved Zavegepant, a new migraine treatment from Pfizer that will be available in July, Time reports.
This nasal spray is the first of its kind in the class of anti-migraine drugs known as calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CGRP) antagonists.
Nasal Spray Migraine Treatment
Time highlights that drugs in this class have only previously been offered in oral and injectable forms. The approval of the nasal spray is good news for people who experience nausea and vomiting during their migraines or cannot take pills once their headaches start.
Impressive Lab Results
Before being cleared for its final stages, experts tested the new anti-migraine nasal spray in a study. According to the study, the spray contains a small molecule that inhibits a protein involved in migraines.
Over 1,400 people with a history of moderate to severe migraine attacks participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to either the Zavegepant or placebo spray and treated for a single migraine attack.
The study discovered that the Zavegepant group experienced more pain relief and relief from their most aggravating symptom two hours after treatment than the placebo group.
The drug has also exhibited pain relief as early as 15 minutes after administration.
The most common side effects were an altered sense of taste, nasal discomfort, and nausea. The study indicates that Zavegepant nasal spray is a safe and effective treatment for acute migraine. Still, more research is needed to determine its long-term safety and efficacy across multiple attacks.
Break Away from Migraine
Migraines are a common and debilitating condition that affects millions of Americans, and they have a significant economic impact, according to the American Journal of Managed Care.
The annual cost of migraines to the US economy is estimated at around $22 billion, with $11 billion in direct costs.
Medical expenses associated with migraine treatment, such as doctor visits, medications, and hospitalization, are examples of its direct costs. A quick and easy treatment, such as a nasal spray, could help people break free from migraine.
What are CGRP Receptor Antagonists?
CGRP receptor antagonists are a group of drugs that stop CGRP (pain-causing compound) from working by binding CGRP receptors on target cells. This prevents CGRP from carrying out its job. These drugs treat a wide range of conditions, such as migraines, cluster headaches, and other types of pain syndromes.
According to experts, blocking the calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors in the brain reduces inflammation, which is linked to migraine pain. Scientists looked at the pathophysiology of migraine for the first time with CGRP medications to understand how to modify and alter that process.
Although CGRP antagonist medications are used to both prevent and treat migraines, Zavegepant is only approved to treat acute migraine pain after an episode has begun.
The FDA's approval of Zavegepant is an important advance in migraine treatment.
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